Method and apparatus for flash distillation



1966 E. L. LUSTENADER 3, 3 09 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FLASH DISTILLATION Original Filed July 20, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l i \All AA/ Inventor:- w Edward LLustenader,

R m by W4 m W His Attorney.

3, 1966 E. LUSTENADER 3,234,109

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FLASH DISTILLATION Original Filed July 20, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LATE/VTHE/IT USED 7'0 CONDEMSE WATER VII/ PRESS URE ENTHHLPY mm lWGAL. o; E 3 /00 s 0; E is Q k 3 a 1 Q 03% 50 R Q a 5 E w o: k w x Q M l l I Al 0 5 /0 u a0 a;

flCTU/IL arm m /5 c} U g /0 80 '6 5 I nventor-: 1

Edward LLustenadem 0 /'0 2b 4b 50 a? y hwu/QW His Attorney.

United States Patent C 3,234,109 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FLASH DISTELLATEQN Edward L. Lustenader, Scotia, N.Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Continuationof application Ser. No. 44,188, July 20, 1960.

This application July 28, 1964, Ser. 1 o. 387,818

Claims. (Cl. 203-111) This application is a continuation of my copending application, Serial No. 44,188, filed July 20, 1960 and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for distillation and, more particularly to a method and apparatus for distillation for use in appliance type water softeners.

There is presently -a need for appliance type apparatus for demineralizing water. Many areas are located adjacent to brackish Water supplies, the impurity content of the water rending it unusable. Other communities have hard water supplies. The mineral content in hard Water may be lower andmay take the form of such minerals ascalcium carbonate and magnesium carbona ate. Presently, there are commercially available devices known as water softeners which reduce theha-rsh character of hard water by utilizing chemical means to provide ion exchange in a manner to remove calcium and magnesium ions from the Water. These chemical means have the disadvantage that they require frequent replacement of the chemicals and also in that they are selective in the type of ions which are replaced. Actually, these water softeners primarily are directed toward hard water where-in, it is intended to remove specific minerals which tend to reduce the effectiveness of cleaning agents.

Distillation apparatus generally are less feasible for domestic use because of the high energy imput required to operate such apparatus, and also because of scaling problems associated with the evaporating surface utilized in such apparatus.

The chief object of the present invention is to provide an improved distillation method and apparatus for appliance use.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide an improved distillation apparatus for domestic use which avoids common scaling problems in the evaporating portion thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for flash distillation utilizing a refrigeration circuit for heating distilland and for condensing distillate.

These and other objects of my invention will be more readily perceived from the following description.

Brietlystated, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for flash distillation wherein distilland is heated by the condensing portion of a refrigeration circuit, passed into a low pressure chamber, a portion of the distilland is flash evaporated, the distillate vapor so formed being condensed by being placed into heat exchange relation with the evaporator portion of the refrigerationcircuit.

The attached drawings illustrate a preferred embodimerit, of the invent-ion in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view of anv apparatus for practicing the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a diagramv plotting pressure vs. enthalpy for a refrigeration cycle for use with the apparatus in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a diagram plotting actual coefiicient of performance vs. temperature difference between the evaporating and condensing portions of refrigeration cycles for use with. the present invention; and

- extending therein header 20.

line -6 to pump 7, which passes the distilland to line 8.

and heat exchanger 9, wherein the distilland is heated by being placed in heat exchange relation with concentrated distilland being discharged by the apparatus. Distilland passing fro-m heat exchanger 9 passes. throughline It to heat exchanger 11, wherein the distilland is passed in heat exchange relation with condensing portion of refrigeration circuit 50, to be more fully described hereinafter. Distilland passes through line 12 through heat exchanger 13, having located therein supplemental heat-. ing means 14 supplied with a heat exchange medium from a source external to both the refrigeration circuit and distillation apparatus, which may be an electrical heater. fully described hereinafter. Distilland leaving heat exchanger 13 passes through line 15 which is connected to line 16, through which is passed distilland being recirculated through evaporating chamber 2. Distilland being supplied to the apparatus and recirculated distilland from the evaporating chamber 2, are introducedto header 29, having suitable supply nozzle 21.

Evaporating chamber 2 comprises shell 22, which has It is desirable that the evaporation be performed in a suitable vacuum and for this purpose, evacuating means 24 may be connected to shell 22, by means of line 23. Evacuating means 24 may be any suitable purging device, as for example, a steam ejector or a vacuum pump.

As liquid is introduced into evaporating chamber 2, a substantial portion of the distilland is evaporated because of the elevated temperatures of the distilland and low pressure conditions in the chamber, the remaining distilland passing into sump 26 which comprises the lower portion of shell 22. Distilland in sump 26 is passed through line 27 and pump 28 into line 16 for recirculation through the evaporating chamber. In order to maintain the concentration of distilland in sump 26 at a desired level, a portion of the concentrated distilland may be discharged from the system through line 29. The heat of this distilland is utilized to heat the incoming distilland in heat exchanger 9. 'The amount of discharge from the system may be suitably controlled by valve 30 located in line 29.

Distillate vapor resulting from evaporating distilland passes upwardly through opening 33 in shell 22 and encounters eliminator construction 34 which removes entrapped liquid particles in the vapor stream. Eliminator constructions are well known in the art and may take the form of parallel corrugated sheets which provide a tortuous path for the fluids passing therethrough, the heavier liquid particles impinging on the corrugated surfaces to drain back into evaporating chamber 2. The vapor passes through conduit 35 and is discharged into condensing portion 3 which comprises shell 37, having located therein heat exchange surface 33, which form the evaporator section of refrigeration circuit 50. Vapor condensing on heat exchanger 38 flows into sump 49, located in lower portion of shell 37. The condensed distillate, when the distilland is saline or brackish water, comprises substantially pure distilled water. This distillate is passed through line 41 to storage means 42. In the case of a hot water heater having associated therewith a water softening device storage means 42 may The purpose of heat exchanger 13 will be more heat exchanger 11, liquid line 60, expansion means 61,

line 64, evaporator section 38 and suction gas line 65 e which is connected to compressor 51. The expansion means 61 may be of any suitable type, such as a thermal expansion valve which responds to the temperature of suction gas by means of capillary connection 62 to the.

temperature bulb 63 mountedon suction gas line 65.

In operation, distilland such as saline water, brackish or hard water, is introduced through line 6, pump 7, line 8, and heated in heat exchanger 9 by concentrated dis tilland being discharged from the apparatus.

exchanger 11 which places the distilland in. heat :exchanger relation with condensing refrigerant in condenser section 59 of refrigeration circuit 50. The distilland may be further heated in heatexchanger 13 by suitable means such as electrical heating means 14. The distilland passes through line 15 which is also connected to line 16. Line 16 recirculates distilland from evaporating chamber 2 and mixes such distilland with incoming distil-e. land which is supplied to header 20.; Distilland is sprayed. through nozzles 21, a substantial portion of the distilland.

vaporizing, the remaining distilland following into sump 26 to be recirculated through line 27,pump 28,-and line 16. Valve 30 in line 29 is provided toregulate the dis-'- charge from the system of an amount of concentrated distilland to maintain the distilland concentration in the sump below a desired level.

Evaporating chamber 2 :is maintained evacuated by' means of ejector 24 which is connected to shell 22 by line 23. Preferably, the temperature of the incoming distilland should be at a temperature higher than the saturated vapor temperature for the pressure in evacuating chamber 2. For example, it is desirable that entering distilland, such as brackish water, be at approxiof the pressure conditions therein and also due to the temperatureof the distilland, a substantial .portion of The vapor will tend to pass through opening 33, through conduit to condensing chamber 3, being defined by shell 37, and havthe distilland turns to vapor.

ing'heat exchanger 38 therein. The vapor, as it tends to pass through opening 33 toward theco-ol surface of heat exchanger 38, will tend ,to carry therewith entrained? distilland particles. Eliminator construction 34 supplies impinging surfaces adapted to remove such particles from,

the vapor stream. The vapor passing through conduit ationcircuitSEi. The: condensedvapor falls into sump The heated distilland is further heated by being passedtthroughheat.

'45, mately 180 F. and the temperature at which the distilland evaporates in evaporating chamber 2 should beapproxirnately 170 F. Therefore, as the heated distilr' land is introduced into evaporating chamber 2, because 3S condenses on the surface, of heat exchanger 38, heat exchanger 38"being the evaporator section of refriger- 40 of shell37 from whence it is passed through line141 I to storage means 42. As previously noted when this apparatus is utilized as a combination water softener and 'hot water heater, auxiliary heating means such as electrical heater 43 may be utilized to maintain: thetemperature of the water in the storage means 42, at a vdesired level.

The incoming distilland is heated by. thecondenser por-; tion of a refrigeration circuit and the distillate vapor is t condensed by the evaporating section of the refrigeration circuit Refrigeration circuit 50 includes a circuit wherein refrigerant gas is compressed in compressor 51 and passed-through discharge linet'SZ ;to auxiliary heat exchanger 53'. The gas at this pointtmay be suitably cooled by being placed in heat exchanger'relation with distilland or other cooling medium, suchi cooling medium being v metered through line 55,'by' valve 56 and being discharged from heat exchanger 53 through line 57. The slightly cooled refrigerant vapor is then condensed .in condensing section 59 of the refrigeration circuit and the heat of the refrigerant imparted totthe distillandsin heat exchanger 11.

wherein the refrigerant is subsequently vaporized-and the latent heat of vaporizationtis utilized to condense distillate vapor in the condensingportion 3. The refrigerant gas. is returned to compressor 51 through: suction gas line 65.1

Bulb 63 is connectedt-o the thermalexpansion valve 61 through capillary 62 in a manner whereby the tempera ture of thesuction gas controls thepassagerofrefrigerant".

through valve 61.

FIGURE 2 is a diagram plotting pnessure chlorodifluoromethane iscompre'ssedtin compressor 51. This increase in pressure is shown occurring between points .70 and.71. Thevapor may become superheated asshown in :FIGURErZ. The ,vaporzis condensed from, point 71 :through point 72 to. point 73. In-heating the. r distilland, the latent heat is utili d whichris shown be-z tween points72 and 773.v 'Itis, therefore,=necessary to re-, 1 move the ,superheat from the refrigerant vapor existing between points 71 and '72. This israchievedby the previously mentioned :heat exchanger 53.- The; refrigerant liquid is then expanded between points 73 .and 74 and the latent heat between points 74 and 70 isutiliz'ed to condense .water vapor in the condensing chamber 3.= It is desirable that a heat balance be achieved wherein the latent heat required to heat the distillandbetween points 1 72 and 73 be substantially equal-to the -latenttheat to condense distilland vapor between points-'74 and 70.:

A situation may arise wherein -insuflicient heat ,is

derived from the compressed vapor betweenpoints 71 and 73 to maintain a desired temperature at line .41 in FIG- URE Liandit isnecessary t-o supplement the heat from the refrigeration circuit with heat such aselectrical energy from heating element 14 located in: heat exchanger :13. The attractiveness of thevaltilization ;of' a refrigerationcircuit with {the distillation apparatus v, arises ;in;the' low temperature differences between ;.the refrigerant 'vapor condensing temperature and the refrigerant evaporating ThiSrlOW't6ITlPBIfltHI'C differential permits the achieving of, a high" coeflicient of performance in the temperature.

refrigeration circuit. The cycle in therefrigeration circuit is basically a Carnot :cycle and the coefl'icient of performance isconsidered an expression'ofthe efi'iciency oft the cycle; since it is the relationship betweenithe-output, that is, the refrigeration effect of the cycle and .the' energy. input to the cyclel:

In :FIGURE 3, the actual COPE(coefficientofperformance) is plotted against At which is the temperature (life ferential in the refrigeration circuit; Curve Sitindicates that, with low temperature;differential, for example, .a

10 differential may supply a coefficient' of performance in the area of-17. With refrigeration circuits utilizediin -airi conditioning apparatus wherein the At= is in the area' of this coefficientzof performance may be in the area Inthe present application,theoretically, the cooling of 3. effect should provide va high coefficie'nt of performance since the heat of condensation is substantially equal to the heat of evaporation required and substantially the.

only work is the pumping effort by the compressor in circulating the refrigerant in the circuit;

Curve 77 in FIGURE 4 illustrates :the COP (coefficient of performance) for the refrigeration circuit plotted.

against the power input to an appliance type water. heater- The condensedtrefrigerant vapor is passed through. liquid line ifi to be expanded through thermal expansionvalve 61-. The mixture of vapor and liquid refrigerant is passed through line-64 to the evaporating section 38,

.vs. enthalpy for refrigeration eyelet Refrigerant .vapor'such as monoe 1 softener. Line 78, "which is parallel to the abscissa, illustrates theoretical heat pump input required in event that all the distilland supplied is evaporated. Line 79 which is parallel to the abscissa indicates the actual heat pump input required, taking into account that a substantial amount of distilland is discharged from the system to maintain a low concentration of the impurities in the distilland in sump 26.

In FIGURE 4, with a coeflicient of performance less than 10, heat must be rejected from the cycle from line 79 to curve 77; This rejected heat is illustrated as Q and is rejected in heat exchanger 53 shown in FIGURE 1. In the event that coefficient of performance is greater than approximately 10, curve 77 extends below line 79and the heat pump input is inadequate to maintain the proper temperature in storagetmeans 42, therefore,supplemental heat Q lis supplied by heat exchanger 13 to the distilland being passed to evaporating chamber 2.

The present invention recognizes that flash evaporation of distilland will substantially avoid scaling problems normally encountered in. distillation apparatus. Furthermore, a refrigeration circuit is utilized to heat distilland and condense distillate. Since the temperature differential required between heating and condensingtemperatures is small, a high coefiicient of performance is achieved in the refrigeration circuit; this coefficient of performance being an expression of the efliciency of the cycle. The solving sof scaling-problems and the economical use of electrical energy makes the-use of this typeof apparatus feasible for home appliance-use as a waterndemineralizing device. While the present invention is illustrated utilizing a vapor compression cyc1e,; other refrigeration cycles, such as absorption cycles, may be used.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will beunderstood that the invention isnot limited thereto since it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the appended claims;

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an apparatus for water distillation the combination of a refrigerationcircuit adapted to contain a refrigerant therein including a condenser and an evaporator, means for passing distilland into heat exchange relation with the condenser of the refrigeration circuit to heat the distilland,

means defining a chamber,

means for evacuating the chamber,

means for spraying distilland into the chamber to evaporate the distilland,

means for passing distillate vapor into heat exchange relation with the evaporator of the refrigeration circuit to condense the distillate vapor,

a heating means, supplied with a heating medium from a source external to both the distillation apparatus and the refrigeration circuit, located downstream of the refrigeration condenser and upstream of the chamber, for increasing the temperature of the distilland and the temperature of the vapor formed within the chamber by bringing the distilland in heat exchange relationship with the heating medium to thereby raise the distillate temperature, and

cooling means in said refrigeration circuit, downstream of the refrigeration evaporator and upstream of the refrigeration condenser, adapted to contain a cooling medium which is passed in heat exchange relationship with refrigerant within the refrigeration circuit, for decreasing the temperature of refrigerant and thereby the temperature of the distilland, said cooling means acting with the influence of said heating means to maintain a temperature differential between the condenser and evaporator of the refrigeration circuit at a value that results in maintenance of the desired temperature in said chamber and thus a high coefiicient of performance for the refrigeration circuit, and a high efiiciency for the distillation apparatus.

2. In an apparatus for water distillation the combination of a refrigeration circuit including a condenser and an evaporator,

means for passing distilland into heat exchange relation with the condenser of the refrigeration circuit to heat the distilland,

means defining a chamber,

means for evacuating the chamber,

means for spraying distilland-into the chamber to evaporate the distilland,

means for recirculating distilland through the spraying means,

a first heat exchangerfor adjusting the temperature of the incoming distilland and thereby aid in maintaining the temperature in said chamber,

means forpassing distillate vapor into heat exchange relation with the evaporator of the refrigeration circuit to condense the distillate vapor,

a heatingnelement having I a heating-medium passed therethrough positioned downstream of the refrigerant-condenser and upstream of the chamber so that the heating'medium can be passed in heat transfer relationship with the distilland to increase the temperature of distillate vapor emanating from the chamber and thereby the distillate in contact with the evaporator. of the refrigeration circuit,

means to supply a heating medium to said heating element from a source external to both the distillation apparatus and the refrigeration circuit, and

a second heat exchanger through which a cooling medium passed during operation is located in said refrigeration circuit downstream of the evaporator and upstream of the condenser for decreasing the temperature of a refrigerant within the refrigeration-cir cuit by passing the cooling medium in heat exchange relationship therewith to cool distilland in contact with the condenser of the refrigeration circuit and thereby, with the influence of said heating element, maintain the temperature differential between said condenser. and said evaporator at a value that maintains the desired temperature in the chamber and that results in a high coefiicient of performance for the refrigeration circuit and thereby a high efliciency for the distillation apparatus.

3. In an apparatus for water distillation the combination of a refrigeration circuit adapted to contain a refrigerant including a condenser and an evaporator,

means for passing distilland into heat exchange relation with the condenser of the refrigeration circuit to heat the distilland,

means defining a chamber,

means for evacuating the chamber,

means for spraying distilland into the chamber to evaporate the distilland,

means for recirculating distilland through the spraying means,

a first heat exchanger for adjusting the temperature of the incoming distilland to thereby aid in maintaining the temperature in said chamber,

means for passing distillate vapor into heat exchange relation with the evaporator of the refrigeration circuit to condense the distillate vapor,

a heating element positioned downstream of the refrigerant condenser and upstream of the chamber for passing a heating medium in heat transfer relationship with distalland passing into the spraying circuit to thereby increase the temperature within;

the evaporator,

means to supply a heat exchange medium tosaid heating element from a source external to both the dis? tillation apparatus and the refrigeration clrcuit, and

through the refrigerationzsystem, to maintain the de-. sired temperature in the :chamber and maintainzta high coefiicient of performance in the refrigeration system and therebya high efliciency of the distillation process. r

5. In a method of water demineralization the .steps t which "comprise passing distilland into heat exchange relation with, a

condenser. of a refrigeration circuit to heat. the dis-vsecond heat exchanger, in said refrigeration circuit tilland, downstream of said evaporator and upstream of said passing the distilland through a heating: means which condenser, for passing a cooling medium inheat is adapted to heat the: distilland as it passes between transfer relationship, with refrigerant in the refrigerathe condenser and an evacuated'chamber, by passing tion circuit to decrease the temperature of the re-- the distillandin heat exchange relationship ;with a frigerant and of the distilland in contact with the heating medium =also passingthrough'the heating condenser of the refrigerationcircuit, and thereby means, theheating medium is supplied from a source withthe influence of said heating element, maintain external toboth the distillation, apparatus and the the temperature differential between said condenser refrigeration circuit," and said evaporator at a value of approximately passing the distilland into ant evacuated chamber to E, a value that maintains the desired temperature in 20 cause flash evaporation of the distilland, said chamber and that results in a high coeflicient of recirculating a portion ;0f the distillate into the evacuperformance for the refrigeration system and thereated-chamber; by results in a high efficiency of the distillation appae. passing distillate vapor adjacent theevaporator of the ratus. refrigeration circuit to condense the distillate vapor, 4.111 a method of Water -demineralization the steps 25. and 7 i which comprise adjusting the temperature ditferential between :the .conpassing distilland into heat exchange relation with the. denser; and the evaporator of. the refrigeration circondenser of a refrigeration system-to heatthe discuit by supplyingwheat from the heating means and tilland, cooling from a heat exchanger in the refrigeration passing the distilland into an evacuated chamber to circuit, :located downstream-of the evaporator and cause flash evaporation of the distilland, upstreamof the condenser, through Whichza cooling passing distillate vapor adjacent the evaporator of theL mediumis also passed in-heatexchange relationshipw refrigeration system to condense the. distillate'vapor, with refrigerantwithin' the refrigeration circuit to and maintain the desired temperature in :the chamber and controlling the temperature differential between the maintaina high coeflicient of performance in the condenser and the evaporator of the refrigeration refrigeration circuit and .thereby'a high efliciency of system by providing heating means located downthedistillation processl stream of the evaporator and upstream of the evacuated chamber, which is supplied, with a heat ex: References te by t etE 'am n'er change medium from a source external to both the 40 UNITED STATES PATENTS v distillation apparatus and the refrigeration system, a a to heat the distilland by passing the heatexchange gg f Allen 20246 medium in heat transfer relationship therewith'and 41361 5/1948 Klrgan 202-45 thereby heat the distillate in contact with the evapo- FOREIGN PATENTS T rator of the refrigeration system, and cooling means 45 174,955 2/ 1922,; Great Britain;

OTHER REFERENCES Germ-any, K24,930, December 1956;

in the formof a heat exchanger positioned in the refrigeration system downstream of the evaporator; and upstream of the condenser so that a cooling medium passing through the cooling means will be in heat transfer relationship with a refrigerant flowing NORMAN YUDKOFF; Primary Examinen 

4. IN A METHOD OF WATER DEMINERALIZATION THE STEPS WHICH COMPRISE PASSING DISTILLAND INTO HEAT EXCHANGE RELATION WITH THE CONDENSER OF A REFRIGERATION SYSTEM TO HEAT THE DISTILLAND, PASSING THE DISTILLAND INTO AN EVACUATED CHAMBER TO CAUSE FLASH EVAPORATION OF THE DISTILLAND, PASSING DISTILLATE VAPOR ADJACENT THE EVAPORATOR OF THE REFRIGERATION SYSTEM TO CONDENSE THE DISTILLATE VAPOR, AND CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN THE CONDENSER AND THE EVAPORATOR OF THE REFRIGERATION SYSTEM BY PROVIDING HEATING MEANS LOCATED DOWNSTREAM OF THE EVAPORATOR AND UPSTREAM OF THE EVACUATED CHAMBER, WHICH IS SUPPLIED WITH A HEAT EXCHANGE MEDIUM FROM A SOURCE EXTERNAL TO BOTH THE DISTILLATION APPARATUS AND THE REFRIGERATION SYSTEM, TO HEAT THE DISTILLAND BY PASSING THE HEAT EXCHANGE MEDIUM IN HEAT TRANSFER RELATIONSHIP THEREWITH AND THEREBY HEAT THE DISTILLATE IN CONTACT WITH THE EVAPORATOR OF THE REFRIGERATION SYSTEM, AND COOLING MEANS IN THE FORM OF A HEAT EXCHANGER POSITIONED IN THE REFRIGERATION SYSTEM DOWNSTREAM OF THE EVAPORATOR AND UPSTREAM OF THE CONDENSER SO THAT A COOLING MEDIUM PASSING THROUGH THE COOLING MEANS WILL BE IN HEAT TRANSFER RELATIONSHIP WITH A REFRIGERANT FLOWING THROUGH THE REFRIGERATION SYSTEM, TO MAINTAIN THE DESIRED TEMPERATURE IN THE CHAMBER AND MAINTAIN A HIGH COEFFICIENT OF PERFORMANCE IN THE REFRIGERATION SYSTEM AND THEREBY A HIGH EFFICIENCY OF THE DISTILLATION PROCESS. 